Method of and apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate and glass-plate working apparatus having the apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate includes: a supporting base for supporting a glass plate; a pair of removing devices for removing a film layer on the glass plate; a transporting device for transporting the glass plate; and a control unit for defining in a divided manner a region of a film layer to be removed by the pair of removing devices and for causing the pair of removing devices to concurrently effect removal of the film layer on the glass plate in an apportioned manner with respect to divided regions defined in the divided manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus forremoving a film layer on a glass plate for removing a film layer formedon one surface of a glass plate which is used as laminated glass or thelike for a window of an automobile or as double glazing or the like fora window of a general building, as well as a glass-plate workingapparatus having that apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Laminated glass having the function of shielding heat rays, ultravioletrays, visible rays, or the like is formed such that film layers forshielding heat rays, ultraviolet rays, visible rays, or the like arerespectively formed on one surfaces of two glass plates by sputtering(metallic deposition) and are inwardly opposed to each other, andpressure, heat, and the like are applied to the two glass plates with apolyvinyl butyral sheet placed therebetween, thereby bonding the filmlayers and the polyvinyl butyral sheet. However, since the film layersand the polyvinyl butyral sheet are difficult to bond to each other, thestate of their bonding is likely to become incomplete, and moisture,air, and the like can possibly enter peripheral portions of thelaminated glass where the state of bonding is incomplete. Consequently,the polyvinyl butyral sheet becomes oxidized and undergoes colordevelopment and change. Accordingly, there is a need to remove the filmlayers at the peripheral portions so as to bond the glass plates and thepolyvinyl butyral sheet which are easily bonded to each other.Meanwhile, double glazing having the function of shielding heat rays,ultraviolet rays, visible rays, or the like is formed such that filmlayers are respectively formed on one surfaces of two glass plates andare inwardly opposed to each other, and in order to obtain ahermetically sealed state between them, spacers are inserted between andbonded to the two glass plates at their peripheral portions by means ofa pressure-sensitive adhesive elastic material (hereafter referred to asbutyl rubber) formed of butyl and Thiokol (trade name). However, sincethe film layers and the butyl rubber are difficult to bond to eachother, the state of their bonding is likely to become incomplete, andmoisture and the like can possibly enter those portions where the stateof bonding is incomplete, making it impossible to maintain thehermetically sealed state. Consequently, the heat insulating effectdeteriorates appreciably, and water droplets and the like can occur onthe film layers. Therefore, there is a need to remove the film layers atthe peripheral portions so as to bond the glass plates and the butylrubber which are easily bonded to each other.

In conjunction with the trend of automation of the motor vehicle trafficsystem in recent years, for example, automatic collection of a toll andthe like is planned to be implemented in which an information recordingmedium such as a card is set on the windshield glass side in a vehicle,and the relevant information is automatically read from outside thevehicle by light rays for reading the information recorded on the cardor the like. However, in the case where the film layers for shieldingheat rays, ultraviolet rays, or the like are formed in the windshieldglass of the vehicle, the transmittance of the reading light raysdeclines when the light rays are transmitted through the film layers, sothat it is difficult to always reliably read the information recorded onthe card or the like. Further, a stop lamp is provided on the rearwindow glass side inside a vehicle so as to rouse the attention of afollowing vehicle when a vehicle during traveling undergoesdeceleration, stopping, or the like. However, in the case where the filmlayers (particularly dark-colored film layers) are formed in the rearwindow glass, when the light rays emitted from the stop lamp aretransmitted through the film layers, the transmittance of the light raysdeclines. Hence, it is impossible to rouse sufficient attention of thefollowing vehicle, and there is a risk of leading to a traffic accidentsuch as a collision from behind. Accordingly, there is a need to enhancethe transmittance of such light rays by removing (cutting off) the filmlayers in regions where the reading light rays and the light rays of thestop lamp are transmitted.

For the above reasons, regions and portions for which the film layers inthe glass plates need to be removed are tending to increase.

Incidentally, in the case of removing a film layer for shielding heatrays, ultraviolet rays, visible rays, or the like, which is formed onone surface of a glass plate used for a vehicle, a general building, orthe like for the purpose of maintenance of health, improvement ofcomfort, securing of privacy, and the like, the film layer in a specificregion of the glass plate is conventionally removed while numericallycontrolling the movement of one removing head.

However, since the regions and portions for which the film layers in theglass plates need to be removed are tending to increase, as describedabove, a long time is required for removing the film layers inpredetermined regions of the glass plates in a case where the singleremoving head is used. Hence, the improvement of productivity of theseglass plates has been difficult, and has been a problem particularly inthe working of window glass for motor vehicles for which highproductivity is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-describedaspects, and its object is to provide a method of and an apparatus forremoving a film layer in a specific region of a glass plate in a shorttime, and a glass-plate working apparatus having that apparatus.

To this end, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, thereis provided a method of removing a film layer on a glass plate,comprising the steps of: defining in a divided manner a region of a filmlayer to be removed on a glass plate; and concurrently effecting removalof the film layer on the glass plate in an apportioned manner withrespect to respective divided regions defined in the divided manner.

In the method of removing a film layer on a glass plate in accordancewith the invention, the region of the film layer to be removed on theglass plate is preferably defined in a divided manner in accordance withat least any one of conditions including its area, shape, and removaltime.

According to the method of removing a film layer on a glass plate inaccordance with the invention, since the region of the film layer to beremoved on the glass plate is defined in a divided manner, preferablydefined in a divided manner in accordance with at least any one ofconditions including its area, shape, and removal time, and the removalof the film layer on the glass plate is concurrently effected in anapportioned manner with respect to divided regions defined in thedivided manner, the film layer in a specific region of the glass platecan be removed in a short time.

In the method of removing a film layer on a glass plate in accordancewith the invention, the region of the film layer to be removed on theglass plate may preferably be defined in the divided manner such thatareas of the respective divided regions assume mutually substantiallyidentical areas, or such that durations of removal time for removing thefilm layer in the respective divided regions are set to mutuallysubstantially identical durations. Since the region of the film layer tobe removed on the glass plate is defined in the divided manner such thatareas of the respective divided regions assume mutually substantiallyidentical areas, or such that durations of removal time for removing thefilm layer in the respective divided regions are set to mutuallysubstantially identical durations, the respective operations of removingthe film layer in the regions to be removed on the glass plate can beeffected in a mutually complementary manner. Thus, the film layer in aspecific region of the glass plate can be removed in a short time.

In the method of removing a film layer on a glass plate in accordancewith the invention, a position at which the removal of the film layer isstarted in each of the divided regions is preferably determined inaccordance with the shape of each of the divided regions.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is providedan apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate, comprising: atleast first and second removing means for removing a film layer on aglass plate, wherein a region of a film layer to be removed on a glassplate is defined in a divided manner, and with respect to dividedregions defined in the divided manner the removal of the film layer onthe glass plate is effected concurrently by being apportioned to thefirst and second removing means.

In the apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate inaccordance with the invention, the region of the film layer to beremoved on the glass plate is preferably defined in the divided mannerin accordance with at least any one of conditions including its area,shape, and removal time.

According to the apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate inaccordance with the invention, since the region of the film layer to beremoved on the glass plate is defined in a divided manner, preferablydefined in a divided manner in accordance with at least any one ofconditions including its area, shape, and removal time, and the removalof the film layer on the glass plate is apportioned to the first andsecond removing means and is concurrently effected by these means in anapportioned manner with respect to divided regions defined in thedivided manner, the film layer in a specific region of the glass platecan be removed in a short time.

In the apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate inaccordance with the invention, the region of the film layer to beremoved on the glass plate may preferably be defined in the dividedmanner such that areas of the respective divided regions assume mutuallysubstantially identical areas, or the region of the film layer to beremoved on the glass plate may be defined in the divided manner suchthat durations of removal time for removing the film layer in therespective divided regions are set to mutually substantially identicaldurations. Since the region of the film layer to be removed on the glassplate is defined in the divided manner such that areas of the respectivedivided regions assume mutually substantially identical areas, or suchthat durations of removal time for removing the film layer in therespective divided regions are set to mutually substantially identicaldurations, the respective operations of removing the film layer in theregions to be removed on the glass plate by the first and secondremoving means can be effected in a mutually complementary manner. Thus,the film layer in a specific region of the glass plate can be removed ina short time.

In the apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate inaccordance with the invention, a position at which the removal of thefilm layer is started in each of the divided regions by the first andsecond removal means is determined in accordance with the shape of eachof the divided regions. Since the position at which the removal of thefilm layer is started in each of the divided regions by the first andsecond removal means is determined in accordance with the shape of eachof the divided regions, the first and second removing means are able toremove the film layer on the glass plate smoothly without interferingwith or colliding against each other.

The apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plate in accordancewith the invention preferably further comprises: transporting means fortransporting the glass plate, wherein the first and second removingmeans respectively have grinding wheels for grinding and removing thefilm layer on the glass plate, the grinding wheels being arranged onboth sides of a path for transporting the glass plate by thetransporting means.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided aglass-plate working apparatus comprising: the apparatus for removing afilm layer on a glass plate according to the second aspect of theinvention; bend-breaking means for bend-breaking a glass plate whosefilm layer has been removed; grinding means for grinding peripheries ofthe glass plate bend-broken by the bend-breaking means; and transportingmeans for transporting the glass plate consecutively to the apparatusfor removing a film layer, the bend-breaking means, and the grindingmeans. Further, in this glass-plate working apparatus as well, the firstand second removing means may preferably be respectively comprised ofgrinding wheels for grinding and removing the film layer on the glassplate, the grinding wheels being arranged on both sides of a path fortransporting the glass plate by the transporting means.

According to the glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with theinvention, the removal of the film layer by the apparatus for removing afilm layer on a glass plate, the bend-breaking by the bend-breakingmeans of the glass plate whose film layer has been removed, and thegrinding of the peripheries of the bend-broken glass plate by thegrinding means can be effected concurrently. In addition, the removal ofthe film layer, bend-breaking, and grinding can be effected in anintegrated manner in a production line by a single apparatus.

The bend-breaking means of the glass-plate working apparatus inaccordance with the invention preferably includes cutting means forforming a cut line for bend-breaking the glass plate whose film layerhas been removed and press-breaking means for press-breaking along thecut line the glass plate on which the cut line has been formed.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of an apparatus for removing a filmlayer on a glass plate in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1with a transporting means omitted;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view, taken in the direction of arrows alongline III—III, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross sectional view, taken in the direction ofarrows along line IV—IV, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory front elevational view, partly in section, ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view of a case in which the transportingmeans of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is adapted to transport theglass plate in a Y direction;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;and

FIG. 8 is an explanatory fragmentary plan view of a glass-plate workingapparatus equipped with the apparatus for removing a film layer on aglass plate in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, a detailed description willbe given of the preferred embodiments of the invention. It should benoted that the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, an apparatus 1 for removing a film layer on a glassplate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is comprised of:a supporting table 16 for supporting a glass plate 2; removing means 4and 5 for removing a film layer 3 on the glass plate 2 supported on thesupporting table 16; a placing table 80 on the carrying-in side, theglass plate 2 whose film layer 3 is to be removed being placed on theplacing table 80; a placing table (not shown) on the carrying-out side,on which the glass plate 2 whose film layer 3 has been removed isplaced; a transporting means 6 for transporting the glass plate 2 so asto carry in the glass plate 2 placed on the placing table 80 onto thesupporting table 16, and so as to carry out the glass plate 2, whosefilm layer 3 has been removed by the removing means 4 and 5, from thesupporting table 16 and place the glass plate 2 on the placing table onthe carrying-out side; and a control unit (not shown), e.g., a numericalcontroller, for defining in a divided manner regions 7 of the film layer3 to be removed by the removing means 4 and 5 and for causing theremoving means 4 and 5 to concurrently effect the removal of the filmlayer 3 in an apportioned manner with respect to divided regions 8 anddivided regions 9 which have been defined in a divided manner.

The removing means 4 includes a removing head 11; an X-direction movingdevice 13 for moving the removing head 11 in an X direction which isparallel to one surface 12 of the glass plate 2; and a Y-directionmoving device 14 for moving the removing head 11 in a Y direction whichis perpendicular to the X direction and is parallel to one surface 12 ofthe glass plate 2. Meanwhile, the removing means 5 includes a removinghead 11 a; an X-direction moving device 13 a for moving the removinghead 11 a in the X direction; and a Y-direction moving device 15 formoving the removing head 11 a in the Y direction. The X-direction movingdevice 13 and the Y-direction moving device 14 are adapted to move theremoving head 11 in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively,i.e., move the removing head 11 in X-Y plane coordinates, while theX-direction moving device 13 a and the Y-direction moving device 15 areadapted to move the removing head 11 a in the X direction and the Ydirection, respectively, i.e., move the removing head 11 a in X-Y planecoordinates.

The removing heads 11 and 11 a in this embodiment are formed in amutually similar manner, and the X-direction moving devices 13 and 13 aare also formed in a mutually similar manner. Accordingly, a descriptionwill be given hereafter of the removing head 11 and the X-directionmoving device 13, and as for the removing head 11 a and the X-directionmoving device 13 a, a reference character ‘a’ will be added to thereference numerals of their component parts in the drawings, asrequired, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The removing head 11 includes a disk-shaped grinding wheel 20; anelectric motor 21 for rotating the grinding wheel wheel 20; a swivelingmeans 22 for swiveling the grinding wheel 20; and an air cylinder unit23 for raising or lowering the grinding wheel 20. The electric motor 21is disposed such that the direction in which its output rotating shaftextends constantly coincides with a direction parallel to one surface 12of the glass plate 2, and is attached to a lower end of a spline shaft27, which will be described later, by means of a bracket 24. Thegrinding wheels 20 and 20 a are arranged on both sides of the path fortransporting the glass plate 2 by the transporting means 6.

The grinding wheel 20 is mounted on the output rotating shaft of theelectric motor 21, and is adapted to rotate by using the output rotatingshaft as its axis. The grinding wheel 20 is adapted to grind and removethe film layer 3 by being brought into contact with the film layer 3 ata cylindrical outer periphery 25 of the grinding wheel 20 by theactuation of the air cylinder unit 23 while the grinding wheel 20 isbeing rotated by the operation of the electric motor 21. It should benoted that the position of contact between the cylindrical outerperiphery 25 of the grinding wheel 20 and the film layer 3 is located ona swiveling axis extending in a Z direction which is perpendicular tothe X direction and the Y direction in which the grinding wheel 20 isswiveled by the swiveling means 22.

The swiveling means 22 has an electric motor 26 mounted on a movablebase 32 which will be described later, and the spline shaft 27 whichalso serves as an output rotating shaft of the electric motor 26. Thespline shaft 27 is disposed in such a manner as to penetrate a rotor ofthe electric motor 26 and extend in the Z direction, and is splined tothe rotor of the electric motor 26 in such a manner as to be verticallymovable with respect to the rotor. As the electric motor 26 is operated,the spline shaft 27 rotates, and the grinding wheel 20 attached to thelower end of the spline shaft 27 by means of the bracket 24 and theelectric motor 21, in turn, rotates, i.e., swivels.

A cylinder of the air cylinder unit 23 is attached to the movable base32 via the electric motor 26, and one end of a piston rod of the aircylinder unit 23 extending in the Z direction is coupled to an upper endof the spline shaft 27 by means of a thrust bearing or the like (notshown). As the air cylinder unit 23 is actuated, its piston rodvertically moves in the Z direction, which in turn causes the splineshaft 27 coupled to the piston rod to move vertically, thereby raisingor lowering the grinding wheel 20 via the bracket 24 attached to thelower end of the spline shaft 27 as well as the electric motor 21.Incidentally, as the means for raising or lowering the grinding wheel20, a hydraulic cylinder unit may be used instead of the above-describedair cylinder unit 23.

It should be noted that the removing head 11 may be arranged such that,as described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No.2000-007209, the electric motor 21 is mounted on the bracket 24 suchthat the output rotating shaft of the electric motor 21 extends in sucha manner as to be inclined toward a direction parallel to one surface 12of the glass plate 2 with respect to the Z direction, so that thegrinding wheel 20 is inclined toward a direction parallel to one surface12 of the glass plate 2 with respect to the Z direction.

The X-direction moving device 13 includes a movable frame 30 extendingin the X direction; a pair of guide rails 31 attached to the movableframe 30 and extending in the X direction; the movable base 32 which isfitted to the guide rails 31 in such a manner as to be movable in the Xdirection and on which the removing head 11 is mounted; a toothed rack33 fixed to the movable frame 30 and extending in the X direction; apinion 34 meshing with the toothed rack 33; and an electric motor 35mounted on the movable base 32 and having an output rotating shaft witha tip to which the pinion 34 is secured. As the output rotating shaft ofthe electric motor 35 is rotated by the operation of the electric motor35, the pinion 34 meshing with the toothed rack 33 is rotated to movethe movable base 32 in the X direction, thereby moving the removing head11 in the X direction.

The Y-direction moving device 14 includes a pair of toothed racks 40 and41 which are respectively attached to both ends, in the X direction, ofthe supporting table 16 in such a manner as to extend in the Ydirection; a pair of guide rails 42 and 43 attached to the respectiveinner sides of the toothed racks 40 and 41 on both ends, in the Xdirection, of the supporting table 16 in such a manner as to extend inthe Y direction; a pair of pinions 44 and 45 meshing with the toothedracks 40 and 41, respectively; a rotating shaft 46 to both ends of whichthe pinions 44 and 45 are respectively secured and which extends in theX direction; a timing pulley 47 attached to the pinion 44; an electricmotor 48 mounted on one end of the movable frame 30; and a timing pulley49 attached to an output rotating shaft of the electric motor 48extending in the X direction. The guide rails 42 and 43 are fitted to aslider (not shown) attached to the movable frame 30, so as to guide themovable frame 30 in the Y direction. The rotating shaft 46 is attachedto the movable frame 30 so as to be rotatable. A timing belt 51 istrained between the timing pulleys 47 and 49 via a tension pulley 50. Asthe electric motor 48 is operated, the pinion 44, the rotating shaft 46,and the pinion 45 are rotated by means of the timing pulleys 47 and 49and the timing belt 51, and the like. This rotation causes the pinions44 and 45 to move in the Y direction while meshing with the toothedracks 40 and 41. In conjunction with this movement, the movable frame 30to which the rotating shaft 46 is attached moves in the Y direction,which in turn moves the removing head 11 in the Y direction by means ofthe movable frame 30, the movable base 32, and the like.

The Y-direction moving device 15 shares the toothed racks 40 and 41 andthe guide rails 42 and 43 of the Y-direction moving device 14, andincludes pinions 54 and 55 meshing with the toothed racks 40 and 41,respectively; a rotating shaft 56 to both ends of which the pinions 54and 55 are respectively secured and which extends in the X direction; atiming pulley 57 attached to the pinion 54; an electric motor 58 mountedon one end of the movable frame 30 a; and a timing pulley 59 attached toan output rotating shaft of the electric motor 58 extending in the Xdirection. The guide rails 42 and 43 are fitted to a slider (not shown)attached to the movable frame 30 a, so as to guide the movable frame 30a in the Y direction. The rotating shaft 56 is attached to the movableframe 30 a so as to be rotatable. A timing belt 61 is trained betweenthe timing pulleys 57 and 59 via a tension pulley 60. As the electricmotor 58 is operated, the pinion 54, the rotating shaft 56, and thepinion 55 are rotated by means of the timing pulleys 57 and 59 and thetiming belt 61, and the like. This rotation causes the pinions 54 and 55to move in the Y direction while meshing with the toothed racks 40 and41. In conjunction with this movement, the movable frame 30 a to whichthe rotating shaft 56 is attached moves in the Y direction, which inturn moves the removing head 11 a in the Y direction by means of themovable frame 30 a, the movable base 32 a, and the like.

The supporting table 16 has a table 65 having an area for supporting theentire plane of the other surface 62 of the glass plate 2 opposing onesurface 12 thereof. The table 65 has a plurality of holes 500, and theseholes 500 are connected to a vacuum suction pump (not shown) through thepiping and valves so as to suck under a vacuum the glass plate 2 on thetable 65.

The placing table 80 shown in FIG. 5 has a plurality of endless belts201 trained between pulleys 200 and an electric motor 202 for causingthe endless belts 201 to travel. The electric motor 202 is coupled via apulley, a belt, and the like 203 to a rotating shaft 204 attached to thepulley 200 and extending in the Y direction. As the electric motor 202is operated, the rotating shaft 204 is rotated, which in turn causes theplurality of endless belts 201 to travel in the X direction. Since theplacing table on the carrying-out side is formed in the same way as theplacing table 80, a description of this placing table will be omitted.

The transporting means 6 includes two holding devices 66 for sucking andholding the glass plate 2; two air cylinder units 67 for raising orlowering the holding device 66; and a moving device 68 for moving theair cylinder unit 67 in the X direction. The holding devices 66 and theair cylinder units 67 are provided on a slider 78 which will bedescribed later.

Each holding device 66 has suction portions (not shown) connected to avacuum suction pump (not shown) via the piping and valves. As the vacuumsuction pump is operated, the glass plate 2 is sucked and held at itsone surface 12 by the suction portions.

In each air cylinder unit 67, the holding device 66 is attached to anouter tip of its piston rod extending in the Z direction. To prevent theglass plate 2 sucked and held by the holding device 66 from rotating,the piston rod of the air cylinder unit 67 is prevented from rotatingrelative to its cylinder and the holding device 66. As the air cylinderunit 67 is actuated, the holding device 66 is raised or lowered in the Zdirection.

The moving device 68 includes an upper frame 73 attached to a base 70 bymeans of frames 71 and 72 and extending in the X direction; a pair ofguide rails 74 attached to the upper frame 73 and extending in the Xdirection; an electric motor 75 attached to one end of the upper frame73; a ball screw shaft 77 coupled to an output rotating shaft of theelectric motor 75 by means of a pulley, a belt, and the like 76 andsupported rotatably on the upper frame 73 via bearings (not shown) atits opposite ends in such a manner as to extend in the X direction; andthe slider 78 to which a ball nut (not shown) threadedly engaged withthe ball screw shaft 77 is secured. Cylinders (not shown) of the aircylinder units 67 are respectively attached to the slider 78 so that theholding devices 66 are respectively located above a central portion ofthe table 65 and above a central portion of the placing table 80. As theelectric motor 75 is operated, the ball screw shaft 77 is rotated bymeans of the pulley, the belt, and the like 76, which in turn moves inthe X direction the slider 78 to which the ball nut threadedly engagedwith the ball screw shaft 77 is secured, thereby causing the aircylinder units 67 mounted on the slider 78 to move in the X direction.

Through a program stored in advance, the control unit of the apparatus 1for removing a film layer on a glass plate in accordance with thisembodiment controls the operation of the electric motors 21, 21 a, 26,26 a, 35, 35 a, 48, 58, and 75, the air cylinder units 23 and 67, thevacuum suction pumps connected to the plurality of holes in the table 65through the piping and valves, and the vacuum suction pumps connected tothe suction portions of the holding devices 66, so as to control theoperation which has been described above and will be described later.

In the case where the film layer 3 formed on one surface 12 of the glassplate 2 is removed by the apparatus 1 for removing a film layer on aglass plate in accordance with this embodiment, the regions 7 of theglass plate 2 for which the film layer 3 is to be removed are defined inadvance by the control unit in a divided manner as the divided regions 8on the side where the removing head 11 is located and the dividedregions 9 on the side where the removing head 11 a is located inaccordance with conditions such as their areas, shapes, the removaltime, and the like. The position in the divided region 8 where theremoval of the film layer 3 by the removing means 4 is started and theposition in the divided region 9 where the removal of the film layer 3by the removing means 5 is started are respectively determined on thebasis of the shapes of the divided regions 8 and 9 defined in thedivided manner. It should be noted that the control unit may be arrangedto define the regions 7 in a divided manner such that the areas of thedivided regions 8 and 9 respectively assume desired areas, preferablymutually substantially identical areas, or may be arranged to define theregions 7 in a divided manner such that durations of the removal timefor removing the film layer 3 in the divided regions 8 and 9 are set todesired durations, preferably mutually substantially identicaldurations. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit may dividethe regions 7 (portions 7) of the film layer 3 to be removed on theglass plate 2 into an apportioned portion C for which the removal of thefilm layer 3 is apportioned to the removing means 4, an apportionedportion D for which the removal of the film layer 3 is apportioned tothe removing means 5, an apportioned portion E for which the removal ofthe film layer 3 is apportioned to at least one of the removing means 4and 5, and so on. In a case where the removal of the film layer 3 at theapportioned portion E is apportioned to both of the removing means 4 and5, the control unit may control the removing means 4 and 5,respectively, such that the removing heads 11 and 11 a effect theremoval while approaching each other from positions mutually distancedin the Y direction.

Next, by means of the transporting means 6, the glass plate 2 on theplacing table 80 is sucked and held at its one surface 12, is raised, ismoved in the X direction, and is lowered, its suction and holding iscanceled, and the glass plate 2 is placed on the table 65 of thesupporting table 16. The glass plate 2 placed on the table 65 issupported at its other surface 62 by being sucked under a vacuum. As theX-direction moving device 13 and the Y-direction moving device 14 areoperated and the X-direction moving device 13 a and the Y-directionmoving device 15 are operated, the removing heads 11 and 11 a on standbyat standby positions which will be described later are moved in the Xdirection and the Y direction within the ranges of the respectivedivided regions 8 and 9, and the grinding wheels 20 and 20 a arerespectively positioned at the positions determined in advance. Thegrinding wheel 20 which has been positioned at the determined positionin the divided region 8 and which is rotating by the rotation of theoutput rotating shaft of the electric motor 21 is lowered by theactuation of the air cylinder unit 23 to bring the cylindrical outerperiphery 25 of the grinding wheel 20 into contact with that determinedposition. The grinding wheel 20 is moved by the operation of theX-direction moving device 13 and the Y-direction moving device 14 whilesubjecting the grinding wheel 20 to angular control by the swivelingmeans 22 so that the grinding wheel 20 maintains a fixed angle withrespect to its advancing direction, thereby grinding and removing thefilm layer 3 in the divided region 8. In parallel with the grinding andremoval of the film layer 3 by the grinding wheel 20, the grinding wheel20 a which has been positioned at the determined position in the dividedregion 9 and which is rotating by the rotation of the output rotatingshaft of the electric motor 21 a is lowered by the actuation of the aircylinder unit 23 a to bring the cylindrical outer periphery 25 a of thegrinding wheel 20 a into contact with that determined position. Thegrinding wheel 20 a is moved by the operation of the X-direction movingdevice 13 a and the Y-direction moving device 15 while subjecting thegrinding wheel 20 a to angular control by the swiveling means 22 a sothat the grinding wheel 20 a maintains a fixed angle with respect to itsadvancing direction, thereby grinding and removing the film layer 3 inthe divided region 9. Namely, the removing means 4 and 5, while beingindividually (mutually independently) controlled by the control unit,concurrently effect the removal of the film layer 3 in the dividedregions 8 and 9 in an apportioned manner. Incidentally, in a case where,in the definition of the regions 7 in a divided manner by the controlunit, the area of one of the divided regions 8 and 9 has been set asbeing 0, e.g., if the area of the divided region 8 is 0, the removingmeans 5 for effecting the removal of the film layer 3 in the dividedregion 9 removes the film layer 3 in the regions 7, and the removingmeans 4 is constantly set on standby. On the other hand, if the area ofthe divided region 9 is 0, the removing means 4 for effecting theremoval of the film layer 3 in the divided region 8 removes the filmlayer 3 in the regions 7, and the removing means 5 is constantly set onstandby. Upon completion of the removal of the film layer 3, theremoving heads 11 and 11 a are respectively moved for standby to theopposite ends, in the Y direction, of the supporting table 16 as theirrespective standby positions by the X-direction moving devices 13 and 13a and the Y-direction moving devices 14 and 15.

Next, the vacuum suction of the other surface 62 of the glass plate 2whose film layer 3 has been removed by the removing means 4 and 5 iscanceled. The glass plate 2 on the table 65 for which the vacuum suctionhas been canceled is sucked and held at its one surface 12, is raised,is moved in the X direction, and is lowered by the transporting means 6.Further, its suction and holding is canceled, the glass plate 2 isplaced on the placing table on the carrying-out side, and the endlessbelts on this placing table on the carrying-out side are caused totravel, thereby carrying out the glass plate 2, for which the removal ofthe film layer 3 has been performed, from the apparatus 1 for removing afilm layer on a glass plate.

It should be noted that although, with the above-described transportingmeans 6, the arrangement provided is such that the glass plate 2 ismoved in the X direction by the moving device 68, the moving device 68may be arranged, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, by disposing the upper frame73 so as to extend in the Y direction and by providing the slider 78 onthe upper frame 73 so as to be movable in the Y direction, and the glassplate 2 may be moved in the Y direction by the transporting means 6having such a moving device 68.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, a description will be given of a glass-plateworking apparatus 85 using the above-described apparatus 1 for removinga film layer on a glass plate. The glass-plate working apparatus 85 iscomprised of a placing table 170 on the carrying-in side on which theglass plate 2 to be worked is placed; a placing table (not shown) on thecarrying-out side on which the worked glass plate 2 is placed; theabove-described apparatus 1 for removing a film layer on a glass plate;a bend-breaking means 86 for bend-breading the glass plate 2 whose filmlayer 3 has been removed; and a grinding means 87 for grinding theperipheries of the glass plate 2 bend-broken by the bend-breaking means86. The transporting means of the apparatus 1 for removing a film layeron a glass plate is configured as a transporting means 88 fortransporting the glass plate 2 consecutively to the apparatus 1 forremoving a film layer, the bend-breaking means 86, and the grindingmeans 87.

The bend-breaking means 86 includes a cutting means 90 for forming maincut lines 89 for bend-breaking the glass plate 2 whose film layer 3 hasbeen removed and a press-breaking means 91 for press-breaking the glassplate 2, on which the main cut lines 89 have been formed, along the maincut lines 89.

The cutting means 90 includes a cutter head 92, an X-direction movingdevice 93 for moving the cutter head 92 in the X direction, aY-direction moving device 94 for moving the cutter head 92 in the Ydirection, and a supporting table 95 for supporting the glass plate 2.

The cutter head 92 has a cutter wheel, an air cylinder unit 96 forraising or lowering the cutter wheel, and a swiveling means 97 forsubjecting the cutter wheel to swiveling control (angular control) sothat its blade constantly maintains a cut-line forming direction. Theswiveling means 97 has an electric motor 100 and a spline shaft which isvertically movable in the Z direction. This spline shaft has a lower endto which the cutter wheel is rotatably attached and an upper end towhich a piston rod of the air cylinder unit 96 extending in the Zdirection is attached.

The X-direction moving device 93, the Y-direction moving device 94, andthe supporting table 95 are respectively formed in the same way as theX-direction moving device 13, the Y-direction moving device 14, and thesupporting table 16, respectively, of the above-described apparatus 1for removing a film layer on a glass plate. Accordingly, a descriptionof the X-direction moving device 93, the Y-direction moving device 94,and the supporting table 95 will be omitted.

The press-breaking means 91 includes a pair of press-breaking heads 111and 111 a for forming edge cut lines 110 and press-breaking the glassplate 2 along the main cut lines 89; an X-direction moving device 112for moving the press-breaking head 111 in the X direction; anX-direction moving device 112 a for moving the press-breaking head 111 ain the X direction; a Y-direction moving device 114 for moving thepress-breaking head 111 in the Y direction; a Y-direction moving device115 for moving the press-breaking head 111 a in the Y direction; and asupporting device 116 for supporting the glass plate 2.

The press-breaking heads 111 and 111 a are formed in a mutually similarmanner, and the X-direction moving devices 112 and 112 a are also formedin a mutually similar manner. Accordingly, a description will be givenhereafter of the press-breaking head 111 and the X-direction movingdevice 112, and as for the press-breaking head 111 a and the X-directionmoving device 112 a, a reference character ‘a’ will be added to thereference numerals of their component parts, as required, and adescription thereof will be omitted.

The press-bending head 111 has an edge-cut-line forming means 118 forforming the edge cut lines 110 on the glass plate 2 and a pressing means119 for pressing the glass plate 2, on which the main cut lines 89 andthe edge cut lines 110 have been formed, along the main cut lines 89.

The edge-cut-line forming means 118 has a cutter wheel, an air cylinderunit for raising or lowering the cutter wheel, and a swiveling meansconsisting of an electric motor for subjecting the cutter wheel toswiveling control (angular control) and a spline shaft which isvertically movable in the Z direction, so that its blade constantlymaintains a cut-line forming direction. This spline shaft has a lowerend to which the cutter wheel is rotatably attached and an upper end towhich a piston rod of the air cylinder unit extending in the Z directionis attached.

The pressing means 119 includes a push rod and an air cylinder unit 120having a piston rod which has one end to which the push rod is attached.As the air cylinder unit 120 is actuated, the push rod is raised orlowered in the Z direction.

The X-direction moving device 112, the Y-direction moving device 114,and the Y-direction moving device 115 are respectively formed in thesame way as the X-direction moving device 13, the Y-direction movingdevice 14, and the Y-direction moving device 15, respectively, of theabove-described apparatus 1 for removing a film layer on a glass plate.Accordingly, a description of the X-direction moving device 112 and theY-direction moving devices 114 and 115 will be omitted.

The supporting device 116 includes an electric motor 124 mounted on abase 123; a flexible endless belt 125 which is rotatably supported onthe base 123 by means of a pair of frames extending in the Y directionand which is trained between a driving-side drum having one end coupledto an output rotating shaft of the electric motor 124 and a driven-sidedrum supported rotatably on the base 123 by means of a pair of frames;and a supporting plate which is supported on the base 123 by means ofthe pair of frames and is disposed on the lower surface of the portionof the endless belt 125 traveling above so as to support the portion ofthe endless belt 125 traveling above. A cullet accommodating section 126is provided at a downstream end of the supporting device 116. As for thesupporting device 116, to discharge the cullet press-broken by beingpressed by the pressing means 119 onto the cullet accommodating section126, the driven-side drum having one end coupled to the output rotatingshaft of the electric motor 124 is rotated by the operation of theelectric motor 124, which in turn causes the endless belt 125 to travel.As the endless belt 125 travels, the cullet is moved to the downstreamend of the supporting device 116, thereby discharging the cullet ontothe cullet accommodating section 126.

The grinding means 87 includes a grinding head 130; an X-directionmoving device 132 for moving the grinding head 130 in the X directionrelative to the glass plate 2; a Y-direction moving device 133 formoving the grinding head 130 in the Y direction relative to the glassplate 2; and a table 134 for supporting the glass plate 2.

The grinding head 130 includes a grinding wheel; an electric motorhaving an output rotating shaft to a lower end of which this grindingwheel is secured; and a swiveling means 131 for swiveling the grindingwheel. By rotating the grinding wheel by means of the electric motor,the peripheries of the glass plate 2 are ground.

The swiveling means 131 has an electric motor 136 attached to the slider151 which will be described later.

The X-direction moving device 132 includes an electric motor mounted onan upper frame 150 as well as a ball screw shaft 152 supported rotatablyby the upper frame 150 and threadedly engaged with a ball nut to whichthe rotation of an output rotating shaft of the electric motor istransmitted by means of a pulley, a belt, and the like and which issecured to a slider 151. The ball screw shaft 152 is rotated by therotation of the output shaft of the electric motor caused by theoperation of the electric motor, which in turn moves the slider 151 inthe X direction, thereby causing the grinding head 130 mounted on theslider 151 by means of a bracket to move in the X direction.

The Y-direction moving device 133 includes an electric motor 160 mountedon the base 123 as well as a ball screw shaft 161 which is coupled to anoutput rotating shaft of the electric motor 160 and is threadedlyengaged with a ball nut secured to the table 134. The table 134 ismounted on a pair of guide rails 162, which are provided on the base 123and extend in the Y direction in parallel to each other, in such amanner as to be movable in the Y direction, and the ball screw shaft 161is rotatably provided on the base 123. As for the Y-direction movingdevice 133, the ball screw shaft 161 is rotated by the rotation of theoutput rotating shaft of the electric motor 160 caused by the operationof the electric motor 160, which in turn causes the table 134 to move inthe Y direction. As the table 134 moves in the Y direction, the grindinghead 130 is moved in the Y direction relative to the glass plate 2supported on the table 134.

The table 134 has a suction unit for sucking the glass plate 2 onto itsupper surface. As a vacuum suction pump connected to this suction unitvia the piping and valves is operated, the suction unit sucks the glassplate 2 placed on the suction unit and thereby causes the glass plate 2to adhere to the suction unit.

The placing table 170 and the placing table on the carrying-out sidewhere the worked glass plate 2 is placed are formed in a mutuallysimilar manner. Accordingly, a description will be given below of theplacing table 170, and a description of the placing table on thecarrying-out side will be omitted.

The placing table 170 has a plurality of endless belts 175 trainedbetween pulleys 174 and an electric motor 176 for causing the endlessbelts 175 to travel. The electric motor 176 is coupled to a rotatingshaft 178 attached to the pulley 174 by means of a pulley, a belt, andthe like 177 in such a manner as to extend in the Y direction. As theelectric motor 176 is operated, the rotating shaft 178 is rotated, whichin turn causes the plurality of endless belts 175 to travel in the Xdirection.

The transporting means 88 includes five holding devices 171 for suckingand holding the glass plates 2, five air cylinder units 172 for raisingor lowering the holding devices 171, respectively; and a moving device173 for moving the air cylinder units 172 in the X direction, theholding devices 171 and the air cylinder units 172 being provided on themoving device 173.

The moving device 173 is formed in the same way as the above-describedmoving device 68. Accordingly, a description will be given below of onlymounting portions of the air cylinder units 172 of the moving device173.

Cylinders of the air cylinder units 172 are attached to the slider 78 ofthe moving device 173 at the same intervals in the Y direction, suchthat the holding devices 171 are respectively located above a centralportion of the placing table 170, a central portion of the supportingtable 16, a central portion of the supporting table 95, a centralportion of the supporting table 116, and the suction unit attached tothe table 134.

In the glass-plate working apparatus 85, the removal of the film layerby the apparatus 1 for removing a film layer on a glass plate, thebend-breaking by the bend-breaking means 86 including cutting by thecutting means 90 and press-breaking by the press-breaking means 91, andgrinding by the grinding means 87 are respectively effected with respectto separate glass plates 2 concurrently. It should be noted that theglass-plate working apparatus 85 is preferably used for working theglass plates 2 which are used for window glass for vehicles.

With the present invention, it is possible to provide a method of and anapparatus for removing a film layer in a specific region of a glassplate in a short time, and a glass-plate working apparatus having thatapparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for removing a film layer on a glassplate, comprising: at least first and second removing means for removinga film layer on a glass plate; and transporting means for transportingthe glass plate, said first and second removing means respectivelyhaving grinding wheels for grinding and removing the film layer on theglass plate, an X-direction moving device for moving the grinding wheelsin an X direction, and a Y-direction moving device for moving thegrinding wheels in a Y direction, said respective grinding wheels ofsaid first and second removing means being arranged on both sides of apath through which the glass plate is transported by said transportingmeans, said grinding wheel of said first removing means being adapted tobe moved in X and Y directions by said X-direction moving device andsaid Y-direction moving device of said first removing means so as togrind and remove the film layer on the glass plate in a first region onthe side of said grinding wheel of said first removing means withrespect to said path, said grinding wheel of said second removing meansbeing adapted to be moved in X and Y directions by said X-directionmoving device and said Y-direction moving device of said second removingmeans independently from the moving of said grinding wheel of said firstremoving means so as to grind and remove the film layer on the glassplate in a second region which is different from said first region andwhich is on the side of said grinding wheel of said second removingmeans with respect to said path, concurrently with the grinding andremoving of the film layer by said grinding wheel of said first removingmeans in said first region.
 2. An apparatus for removing a film layer ona glass plate according to claim 1, wherein said grinding wheel of saidfirst removing means is adapted to grind and remove the film layer onthe glass plate in the first region in accordance with at least any oneof conditions including area and shape of the film layer to be groundand removed and time required for the grinding and removing in the firstregion.
 3. An apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plateaccording to claim 1, wherein said grinding wheel of said secondremoving means is adapted to grind and remove the film layer on theglass plate in the second region in accordance with at least any one ofconditions including area and shape of the film layer to be ground andremoved and time required for the grinding and removing in the secondregion.
 4. The apparatus for removing a film layer on a glass plateaccording to claim 1, wherein said first and second removing meansrespectively have electric motors having output rotating shaftsextending parallel to one surface of the glass plate, said respectivegrinding wheels of said first and second removing means being adapted tobe brought into contact with the film layer on the glass plate at acylindrical outer periphery of said respective grinding wheels of saidfirst and second removing means, rotated by said output rotating shaftof said electric motor.
 5. The apparatus for removing a film layer on aglass plate according to claim 1, wherein the area of the film layer tobe removed in the first region and the area of the film layer to beremoved in the second region are identical.
 6. The apparatus forremoving a film layer on a glass plate according to claim 1, wherein theremoval time for removing the film layer to be removed in the firstregion and the removal time for removing the film layer to be removed inthe second region are identical.
 7. The apparatus for removing a filmlayer on a glass plate according to claim 1, wherein a position at whichthe removal of the film layer is started by said first removing means inthe first region is determined in accordance with the shape of the filmlayer on the glass plate in the first region, while a position at whichthe removal of the film layer is started by said second removing meansin the second region is determined in accordance with the shape of thefilm layer on the glass plate in the second region.